Chelsea Public Schools voters will consider a transportation bond proposal during the April 7 election. The bond would allow the district to purchase school buses and transportation equipment while helping eliminate ongoing lease expenses currently paid from district operating funds.
The proposed bond is for $800,000 with a three-year term and would be used primarily to purchase seven route buses, along with other transportation vehicles if funds allow. All buses purchased would be 2018 models or newer and equipped with air conditioning.
Each school day, Chelsea Public Schools transports approximately 300 students in the morning and 320 students in the afternoon. District buses travel about 437 miles each day on regular routes, and transportation vehicles have already logged more than 91,000 miles this school year.
Currently, the district operates a fleet of 10 buses. Some of these buses are owned by the district, while others are under lease or lease-purchase agreements. Chelsea Public Schools began leasing buses in the mid-1990s as a way to maintain a transportation fleet without making large upfront purchases.
In recent years, however, the cost of leasing buses has increased significantly. During the current school year, the district is paying approximately $167,700 in annual lease payments. If the proposed bond is approved, those lease expenses would be eliminated and free up approximately $170,000 annually in district operating funds that could be used for classroom programs and student services.
The estimated tax impact of the proposed bond is relatively small. Based on Rogers County’s current taxable value rate of 11%, the estimated impact on a $100,000 property would be approximately $29.81 per year, or about $2.48 per month. Actual tax amounts may vary depending on property valuations and final county calculations.
Chelsea Public Schools also monitors its tax rates in comparison with surrounding districts. The district’s Bond Fund millage rate for FY26 is 13.87 mills, which ranks seventh out of eight school districts in Rogers County.
Community members who would like more detailed information about the transportation bond, including millage comparisons, tax impact examples, and frequently asked questions, can visit the district’s Transportation Bond Information page.
Additional details are available at:
https://www.chelseadragons.net/page/2026-transportation-bond
The transportation bond election will be held April 7, with polls open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM at local district precincts.